Implant reference · Bicon system

Failing Bicon implants: causes, design context and management

A neutral, factual overview of complications and failure associated with Bicon dental implants — the distinctive design that shapes their behaviour, the causes of failure common to all implants, and what patients can do if a Bicon implant fails.

Last reviewed 13 June 2026 · General information, not medical advice.

What Bicon implants are

Bicon Dental Implants is a United States implant system, first developed in the mid-1980s, known for several design features that distinguish it from the more common screw-retained, externally or internally threaded implant systems. Two characteristics define the Bicon approach: a sloping-shoulder (bacterial-seal) design at the top of the implant, intended to support a wider band of bone over the implant platform; and an integrated, screwless abutment connection that uses a 1.5-degree locking taper (a cold-weld friction fit) rather than an abutment screw. Bicon implants are also typically short and plateaued (finned) rather than long and threaded, which is intended to allow placement in sites with limited bone height.

These design choices give the system particular advantages and particular failure considerations. Because complications and failure can occur with any dental implant system, the purpose of this page is to explain — neutrally — how and why Bicon implants can fail, and how such failures are usually identified and managed.

Why do dental implants fail in general?

Most causes of dental implant failure are common to all systems, including Bicon. They fall into two broad groups:

• Biological failure — most commonly peri-implantitis, an inflammatory process affecting the gum and bone around an implant, driven by bacterial plaque. It can progress to loss of supporting bone and, if untreated, loss of the implant. Smoking, poorly controlled diabetes, poor oral hygiene and a history of periodontal disease all increase the risk.
• Mechanical or surgical failure — including inadequate initial stability, failure to osseointegrate during healing (early failure), overloading of the implant, fracture of components, or technical issues with placement.

Implant failure is generally classified as early (occurring before or during osseointegration, often within weeks to a few months) or late (occurring after the implant has been functioning, usually due to peri-implantitis or mechanical overload).

Failure considerations specific to the Bicon design

The locking-taper (screwless) abutment connection

The Bicon system's friction-fit, screwless connection avoids the screw-loosening and screw-fracture problems that can affect screw-retained systems, and its tight seal is associated with a low rate of bacterial leakage at the implant–abutment interface (microgap). However, the same press-fit connection means that abutment seating and retrieval differ from conventional systems. An abutment can, in some circumstances, become dislodged, and re-seating or replacing a locking-taper abutment requires technique and instruments specific to the system. Clinicians unfamiliar with the Bicon connection may find servicing or restoring a failing Bicon case more challenging than a mainstream screw-retained implant.

Short, plateaued implants and bone support

Bicon implants are frequently short. Short implants have been studied extensively and, when used appropriately, can perform well; however, short implants place a premium on the quality and quantity of surrounding bone, and any progressive bone loss around a short implant represents a proportionally larger share of its total support. As with all implants, peri-implant bone loss from peri-implantitis is therefore a central concern for the long-term survival of a Bicon implant.

Restoration and component availability

Because the Bicon system is proprietary and less widely stocked than the largest mainstream brands, a patient whose Bicon implant or restoration fails may need to return to a clinician with access to Bicon components and familiarity with the locking-taper protocol. This is a practical, rather than biological, consideration, but it can affect how readily a failing case is managed.

Signs that a Bicon implant may be failing

• Persistent or increasing looseness of the implant or its restoration.
• Pain, tenderness or discomfort around the implant, especially on biting.
• Swelling, redness or bleeding of the gum around the implant, or discharge (signs of peri-implant inflammation or infection).
• Gum recession exposing part of the implant, or a visible change in the way the restoration sits.
• Bone loss seen on radiographs at routine review.

An implant that feels loose, or that is painful, should always be assessed promptly. Early peri-implant inflammation (peri-implant mucositis) is often reversible with professional cleaning and improved home care; established bone loss (peri-implantitis) requires active treatment and is more difficult to reverse.

What to do if a Bicon implant fails

If you suspect a problem with a Bicon implant, the appropriate steps are:

• Seek a clinical and radiographic assessment from a dentist experienced with dental implants, ideally one familiar with the Bicon system, so the cause of failure can be identified.
• Distinguish a restoration problem from an implant problem. A dislodged or fractured abutment or crown may be repairable without removing the implant; bone loss or failure of osseointegration is a more serious matter.
• Treat peri-implantitis early. Management may include professional decontamination, improved hygiene, addressing risk factors such as smoking, and in some cases surgical treatment.
• Removal and replacement. Where an implant has failed and cannot be saved, it is usually removed; after the site heals, and with bone grafting if needed, a new implant can often be placed.

References and further reading

• Bicon Dental Implants — manufacturer information on the integrated abutment and locking-taper design.
• NHS — Dental implants (overview of implant treatment).
• Oral Health Foundation — patient information on dental health and implants.
• General Dental Council — register of UK dental professionals.
• Peri-implantitis: definition, prevalence and management — general clinical literature on peri-implant disease.